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The Dropbox app doesn't launch automatically upon startup on my Mac.
My dropbox will not load automatically on my mac when I start the computer. It used to, why did it stop and how do I set it up to do it automatically?
It is set to automatically start at login but is not doing so. No icon s hows up in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hi dschwartz44 - thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Could you please let us know the OS version on your Mac?
If I got this one right, and since you're also missing the little Dropbox icon, can you try uninstalling the Dropbox app on your computer, and then reinstalling it?
If you haven’t tried this yet though, I’d like you to open your app preferences and unselect - reselect the option to launch Dropbox upon your device’s startup. Do you encounter the same behavior after that?
Let me know of any updates!
Hi, Megan! Not dschwartz44 but I've got the same problem.
I tried your suggestion to deselect & reselect the option to launch Dropbox on my Mac's startup. Dropbox would not automatically launch on restart.
I then tried uninstalling and installing the Dropbox app. Once again, Dropbox failed to automatically launch on restart.
Any other ideas?
- Megan
Hey Kino A., let's jump right into this!
Would you mind clarifying your device's OS, along with the app's version?
You can find the version by hovering your mouse over the little Dropbox icon on your menu bar, next to your WiFi.
Also, when did you first notice this behavior?
Let me know more!
macOS Sequoia 15.3.1 - Dropbox 218.4.4348
I don't remember when specifically it started. I do know it's been at least a few months.
- Walter
Thanks for the additional information there Kino A. - much appreciated.
The next step you could try in this case is a clean, advanced reinstall, if it's not too much of a problem for you.
Let us know of any updates!
Miserable failure…
The first Terminal command worked (I think). After I entered it, Terminal returned with the usual “(my user name)@(my Mac’s name) ~ %”
I then entered “sudo chown -R "$USER" ~/Library/Cloudstorage/Dropbox” Terminal went down a rabbit hole by returning the location in my Dropbox folder of four files followed by “Operation not permitted.” Those files had nothing to do with the Dropbox application so I elected to quit while (hopefully) ahead.
Sure. Could I initiate the email contact?
Just a follow up. After a great effort by the Dropbox Staff, including Megan, Walter, Hannah & Ben, here's a suggestion for a fix...
Go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions and under Open at Login check the little icon next to Dropbox. Mine was a generic white one. I selected Dropbox and tapped the "minus" sign to remove it. Then I re-added it to Open at Login. After that, the icon was the usual Dropbox blue one and the application worked as it should.
Thanks for your help, girls & guys! Cheers!
